Knee Socks | Billy Hargrove AU

1

The "Back to School Bash" is one of the biggest events that takes place at Hawkins High, but the even bigger event is the afterparty. It allows all of the students to catch up, rekindle old friendships, judge each other's outfits, drink, smoke, and even to have sex.

I didn't plan on attending the bash, but the party afterwards was a must to attend. It's where people like Kathy Hadley get drinks spilled on them, and where people like Steve Harrington get beaten up. It was a time where every clique--nerds, goths, populars, jocks--comes together to celebrate the start of a brand new year.

Sometimes nerds and jocks would hookup, and then never speak to each other for the rest of their lives. It was truly a sight to see.

I stood at the front door of Penny Brooke's house next to my best friend, Nikki Armstrong, who has done this with me every year since we were freshman.

"Junior year, baby!" Nikki squeals as the door to Penny's house is opened by a guy on the football team. She is definitely the more outgoing friend between the two of us. Without her influence, I wouldn't be showing my face at this party.

I follow behind Nikki as she leads us to the table filled with alcohol. "Are you drinking tonight?" She asks me while she pours herself a beer, making me want to gag. I don't know how she drank that stuff, it tastes awful.

"Probably not, you know how it-" I am cut off by a loud sound of chanting coming from outside.

Nikki's head raises from her drink, looking in my direction with furrowed eyebrows. "What the hell is going on out there?" She asks rhetorically, as she has already started walking towards the sliding doors that would lead us to the outdoors.

Usually these parties are low-key, since no one could risk getting in trouble with their parents or the police. It tends to be mildly quiet other than the music, in order to assure that we wouldn't get caught. The loud noise from outside is opposite from normal, which is why we we're concerned.

We walk up to see an unfamiliar body attempting a keg stand, clearly succeeding due to the cheers. He stays up for about 20 more seconds after we get there, and when he comes down he has a devious smile on his face, pumping his fists in the air with excitement.

The boy had alcohol evident on his face and shirt, but was clean on his tight denim jeans. I realized then that I was very obviously checking him out. His curly hair was layered with a bit of sweat due to the hot weather, and his eyes were hypnotizing as they met mine.

"Dude, that hot new guy is staring you down!" Nikki says from next to me, snapping me out of my gaze. I lose eye contact immediately, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"Oh my god, I was checking him out so hard!" I say loud enough for Nikki to hear, running a stressed hand over my forehead.

"He's still looking at you! Go over there and talk to him," she suggests, giving me a little push but I don't budge.

"No! I'm completely sober and he is probably drunk off his ass, I'm not doing that!" I whisper-yell in my best friends face.

"Well, he's coming over here anyways so I'll catch you later, bye!" Nikki says quickly, and before I can begin to stop her, she's disappeared back into the house.

I sigh in frustration, and when I turn back around I am met with the face of the new guy. I jump slightly, not expecting his close proximity.

"Jumpy little one, hm?" He observes, a smirk placed on his lips, white teeth glistening. I didn't realize I was up against a wall until his arm was lifted above my head, his body leaning significantly closer to mine.

"Only around strangers," I respond, finding it hard to maintain eye contact with his captivating gaze.

His mint gum smacks in his mouth, and any other time it would annoy me but he somehow makes it attractive.

"Well we're not strangers anymore, sweetheart. I'm Billy. Billy Hargrove." His raspy voice speaks, and it took me awhile to notice his hand was held out for me to shake.

I weakly collect my hand with his, the physical contact causing goosebumps to rise on my skin. He lets our hands touch for a moment longer than they should've been, staring at me intently, like he knew it was turning me to mush.

I pull my hand away, finding the whole situation too overwhelming and feeling like I was going to pass out any second.

"I-I'm Lacey. Lacey Myers." My voice barely comes out, and for my sake I hope he heard me.

"That's a beautiful name, Lacey. So innocent." He looks up at me through his long, dark eyelashes. I must've been visibly shaking because he suddenly took my wrist in his grip to stop me.

"Calm down, darling. I don't bite." He whispers into my ear. "Well, maybe I do, if that's what you're into." His raspy voice was killing me.

"I-I.." I try to speak but nothing comes out.

A chuckle comes out of his beautiful lips. "I like that I make you speechless, Lacey Myers."

After he says this I start to feel dizzy, in a way I've never felt before and I didn't know how to feel about it.

I muster up the courage to say, "I need to get water, excuse me." It's a lame excuse to leave but I had nothing better to come up with. If I stood there with him any longer I would've surely passed out.

~~~

Should I continue this story?? Let me know!!